The man burst into the room and slammed her against the wood block, his guns and sheathed knife pressing into her belly. He lifted her skirts and she tugged them down. His hands were everywhere.
“I always wanted to sink my quid into a redhead,” he laughed.
She pushed at him, but he held her drawn between his legs. Up close, he reeked even more. Her stomach roiled. His face leered above her as he ripped at her skirts.
“So much boldness. I don’t think you’re as confident as you pretend.”
A sickening terror crawled up her belly. His hands clawed up her legs, forcing her thighs to open.
“I won’t let you—”
He knocked off her cap and coiled a mass of her hair tight to his fingers and yanked her face inches before his own. “You will learn obedience like the bitch you are.”
When she squirmed, he laughed, and mauled her breasts in a punishing grip, pinching her nipples. She wanted to scratch his disgusting sneer off his swine face. She bit his hand. He slapped her, and then grabbed at her nether regions.
Heart pounding in her ears, she reached back, stretched out and arm flailing for something to grab. The basket of eggs crashed to the floor. She stretched harder…felt the hilt of the knife she had used earlier. She grasped it and whipped it to his throat…pushed it into his flesh. A trickle of blood dripped from his neck onto her chest. “Get away from me before I slit your throat.”
He backed away just as the cook came into the kitchen, then took a step back, eyes wide. Juliet threw down her skirts and moved around the cook, thankful this one time for her presence. Out of breath, Mary burst in behind her.
“Get yerself upstairs, Juliet. I’ll report yer whoring to Mistress Hayes later.”
Her body trembling, Juliet straightened. Visions of the whipping post loomed. “I’ve done nothing to encourage—”
“She’s a slut,” sneered Snapes, wiping the blood from his neck. “Would spread her legs for anyone.”
“I know her kind,” the cook scoffed. “Saw her lusting after Joshua Hansford.”
Snapes froze. “Joshua Hansford was here? When? What was he about?”
What was Snapes’ interest in Joshua? Juliet’s stomach beat a wild tattoo. She sensed whatever his interest, it did not bode well for Joshua.
“Months ago,” said the cook.
The cook moved her bulk round the kitchen, inspecting the broken eggs on the floor. “I’m sure Juliet will earn a whipping for her sins, but the Mistress is in a terrible temper over Eldon. He goes first.”
“What? The poor boy is sick, cannot lift his head from the bed.” It was a moot point how the cook was obviously hale and healthy and derelict in her duties.
“Mistress has to teach him a lesson.”
The punishment was madness and they were helpless to stop the lunacy. “There is no need for this cruelty.” Juliet said. “Mary and I are doing his chores.”
Juliet caught the English captain’s malevolent stare directed at her. “Tell Mistress Hayes, I’ll do the honors.”
* * *
Amidst moans, the boy was dragged down the stairs and in such a feverish state, Juliet prayed he did not know what was happening to him. Orpha, in her dressing gown, commanded her position from the porch. The servants were aligned around the post for optimal viewing and the consequent lesson to be learned. Snapes had secured Eldon, his hands tied above his head, his toes barely touching the ground. Barely conscious, his chin slumped to his chest.
Like a showman, Snapes smiled, taking great delight in teasing out the macabre moment before administering the lash. One. Two. Three…the whip cracked.
Juliet lost count and held back the bile in her throat.
“Dear God,” said Mary. She leaned against Juliet, gasping. The other servants stayed rooted and trembled, too afraid to speak up against the horror unless they wanted to be next. The cook lifted her chin in approval. Orpha clapped and cheered with each blow.
Over and over again, Snapes cracked powerful, punishing blows on Eldon’s back. Blood streamed in rivers off his emaciated body.
Juliet put her hands over her ears. “Stop! Stop it!”
His arm lowered to his side, Snapes regarded Orpha. His questioning gaze seemed to beg for more lashings.
